Profanities and the Christian’s Attitude

There cannot be any question really that bad language is really incompatible with a Christian believer’s deportment. Often we refer to bad language as ‘swearing’, but in the Scriptures ‘swearing’ usually refers to ‘taking an oath’, and of course there is much said about that. Also the word “conversation” in the NT has the somewhat different connotation, and has to do with general behavior, i.e. how we live as Christians; our conduct of life. As in Philippians 1:27

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

Paul is saying that those who embrace the Gospel of Christ SHOULD give evidence of that in the way they live. Everything about us should mark us out as DIFFERFENT to the ungodly – and I believe that also has to do with our speech.

I am of the conviction that you cannot divorce our ‘language’ from our ‘living’, for Jesus said, “Out of the heart the mouth speaks…”The ‘heart’ (Gk. cardia ) has the sense of ‘the centre of our being; the seat of our personality.’ In Matthew 12:34-37 (The Message) Jesus said to the Pharisees –

"You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."

In Luke 6:45 He also said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

Jesus is clear: if the heart is good, then good things will come forth from it.

And surely, if as a believer the heart has been cleansed and transformed by the grace of God, it should be manifest in both our works AND WORDS, our speech. I note in 1 Timothy 4:12 that Paul does make reference to how we speak or talk together with our general behaviour. He says,

"Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity."

The Greek for “speach” here is logos, in many versions it actually uses 'word', and has to do with “the act of speaking; the kind or style of speaking.” (Thayer’s Greek definitions) It is NOT true to say that God does not bother about our language, because ‘there are worse things…’ Yes, there may be worse things, but does that then rule out bad language, which is generally profane?

Incidentally, when we use the term ‘profane’ – and Esau was referred to as a “profane person,” (Hebrews 12:16 – the English word profane comes from the Latin pro fanum, which is literally ‘outside of the temple.’ From that Scripture Esau was not a fornicator, BUT even his action of ‘selling his birthright’ was an act that God regarded as ‘profane,’ and is listed with fornication!

Profanity does no one any good. Nobody is the richer, or wiser, or happier for it. It helps no one’s morals or manners, and cannot for a moment abide with refined conversation. As a Christian it is disgusting to the refined; it is abominable to the good; and it is extremely distasteful to us when we hear it.

As a believer, when you hear it, it goes against the grain; it offends your spirit. It is not only unprofitable, it is needless, and I feel sure it is offensive in the sight of God. And especially these days, when I hear ‘Christians’ often saying, “O my God…” That is a profanity.

I believe that pastors need to address some of these matters in their preaching so as to guide believers, especially new converts, though I have found that genuine new converts seem to realise that now they are Christians they ought not to use bad language as they used to – and that is without being told! Paul talks about the grace of God “teaching us…” (See Titus 2:11-12. Another word often used is “O damn…” Really, it is an abbreviation of “Damn YOU.” And surely to invoke damnation is serious.

You can’t overlook such language and say that it doesn’t matter to God! In a day when the name of our Lord is extremely profaned, Christians ought NOT to use the language of the godless.

There is another point here, and that is to do with what Jesus says – Matthew 12:36,

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

The word “idle”has to do with what is ‘vain, thoughtless, and useless’ – and is not that what bad language is? It is that which accomplishes no good whatever. The implication of Jesus’ words is this: “You might say, “It’s nothing: we mean no harm by it; why make so much fuss about it, and bear down with such indignance and severity for it?”

But Jesus says, “YOU might say it’s nothing, but at that great day of accountability it will not be treated as nothing: words, as the index of the heart, however idle they may seem, will be taken account of, whether good or bad, in estimating character in the day of judgment.”

And note what Jesus continues to say in verse 37 – “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Words do matter!

Sadly, this indifference to the matter of bad language is symptomatic of the age in which we live. In North Queensland just recently, a man was before the magistrate on a charge of abusing a policeman with ‘bad language’. He had been using the ‘f’ word. The magistrate threw out the case on the ground that, in his words, “O, this word is now common in our society; it’s a part of our modern vocabulary.” THAT is how the world thinks and acts and talks – but it ought not so to be with Christians.

Just one further point to consider: would these professing Christians use that language when addressing God? NO! But why not if it is harmless and of no importance?

Provided with thanks from : Aeron Morgan